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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think paying extra to jump a queue is just wrong?

126 replies

create · 05/08/2011 22:49

We've spent the last week or so doing the tourist thing in London (most expensive holiday ever and we slept at home!)

Most of the big attrations (London Eye, Aquarium etc) allow you to purchase a priority ticket for a few pounds per person extra, which means you don't have to queue. I know it can be done at Legoland and other theme parks too.

It just seems wrong to me though, that those with enough cash can not only jump the queue, but effectively make others' waiting time longer. It doesn't seem like the behaviour I want to demonstrate/teach to my DC, but at it seems to be the way of the world AIBU?

OP posts:
Shinyshoes1 · 05/08/2011 22:53

yes a little , I use priority passes as I can't bear to queue for ages with 3 children one of whom a 3 year old.

It buys my sanity which I'm quite happy to pay for Grin

MadameLupino · 05/08/2011 22:53

YY. It is shitty. Priority cards should be for those who cannot queue.
What happens when the priority cards become the norm? Super plus priority at 200% of the original price?

southeastastra · 05/08/2011 22:54

they just booked in advance though surely

EndInTearrs · 05/08/2011 22:56

Yes this really annoyed me in America, waiting over an hour to get on a ride in blazing hot sunshine, get near the front of the queue and SHOULD be next on yet a huge family with VIP passes swan in front of us and get the next ride and we're left standing waiting for the next one. It stinks. Especially when you've already paid extortionate prices to be there in the first place. So wrong.

squeakytoy · 05/08/2011 22:56

No, you dont need to book in advance, you just pay almost double the price. (At the London Eye and at the Dungeons too).

rainbowtoenails · 05/08/2011 22:56

Yanbu, at alton towers they charge $10 to q jump 2 rides. Its just a scam.

TheSmallPrint · 05/08/2011 22:57

I agree this drives me mad. I paid a fortune to get into Legoland with my DCs and spent ages queueing with my 3yo for a babyish ride only to get to the front and have a load of preteens wall straight past all the lIttle ones and get straight on the ride. Its just wrong.

southeastastra · 05/08/2011 22:57

that's really bad, am quite shocked they would do this :S

justabigkidatheart · 05/08/2011 22:57

YANBU. We booked in advance for the london eye 2 wks ago and still had to queue 20 mins to pick up the tickets and 40 mins to actually get on the eye. Not sure why they bothered giving us a time slot tbh Confused

scurryfunge · 05/08/2011 22:57

I pay at airports not to queue. You are just paying for a better service.

MorticiaAddams · 05/08/2011 22:57

I'm not quite sure what your aibu is. YANBU to want to teach this behaviour to your children but similarly if other people have the money to do it they are not being unreasonable to either.

I would be quite happy to pay extra and queue jump to save hanging around.

K999 · 05/08/2011 22:58

I buy priority passes wherever I go. Can't abide to stand beside the rif raf.

Original poster
create · 05/08/2011 22:58

No, southeastastra. For the London Eye, you can book a standard ticket in advance, when you still need to arrrive 45 mins before your alloted time and queue, or you can pay extra and not queue. For the Aquarium, you can pay £3 extra on the door and jump the queue.

OP posts:
Original poster
create · 05/08/2011 22:59

K999, that's exactly what I mean, that's a horrible thing to teach our children.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 05/08/2011 23:00

I paid to get priority tickets on the Eye. The main queue was huge, and we were prepared to pay double for our tickets.

You get what you pay for in life, and thats just the way it is really.

I would pay to travel first class on a flight if I could afford it, but I cant. So I sit with the rest of cattle class and get on after first class have got on. I dont begrudge them, they have paid the extra for that.

Birdsgottafly · 05/08/2011 23:01

It isn't any different to the VIP 'perks' at the airport.

It isn't just those with more cash, it is what you decide to spend your money on, if you don't want to queue, you have the choice to pay more, and go in quicker.

The only thing that DC's will learn is that life is easier the more money you have, which in alot of ways, is true.

SharperSeven · 05/08/2011 23:01

Don't have a problem with this. Bought priority tickets for places when visiting New York- saved hours of queueing time.

snippywoo2 · 05/08/2011 23:02

Yes it is wrong. OK if your disabled, but no, jumping the queue should not be allowed just because you have the extra money it is wrong. Everyone should wait in line for their turn, just because you have money it should not get you special privileges and that can be applied to everything in life.

merryberry · 05/08/2011 23:02

yanbu. they should let ME through free as I am special Wink

K999 · 05/08/2011 23:03

Create, perhaps. But my kids don't have money to pay for their own priority passes so they have to queue like the majority of folks. Meanwhile, DP and I stroll by......it really winds then up but I keep telling them "money talks".....

Original poster
create · 05/08/2011 23:04

So those of you who think AIBU woudl be happy if people prepared to pay extra could jump the queue at the supermarket, or for the bus? A&E?

OP posts:
rathlin · 05/08/2011 23:04

speedy boarders on easyjet = speedy losers! Grab yourself a kid and you get speedy boarding for free.

MorticiaAddams · 05/08/2011 23:05

I don't really understand why people get so wound up about it.

Some people have plenty of money and some struggle.
Some people have lots of children and some can't have any.
Some people have good health and some don't.

The list is endless and it's just the way it is, life isn't fair but it hits us all in different ways.

AgentZigzag · 05/08/2011 23:05

Just hope everyone pays to queue jump, then they'll have to queue longer than if they'd not paid Smile

I don't mind it really, probably because we can't afford to go to the theme parks Grin

scurryfunge · 05/08/2011 23:06

Emergency hospital treatment is a right in this country. Legoland is not.